Non-prep veneers vs. classic veneers — the difference

Today the term “veneer” covers two fundamentally different procedures. Anyone doing their research usually encounters the classic technique first — and is then left wondering what “non-prep” actually means in practice.

What happens with a classic veneer?

In the classic preparation, 0.3 to 0.7 millimetres of the tooth’s enamel surface are ground away. This creates space for the ceramic shell and allows the tooth’s shape to be redesigned harmoniously even for larger corrections. The price: healthy tooth structure, once removed, does not come back.

What changes with a non-prep veneer?

Non-prep means literally: no preparation. The tooth surface is not ground. Wafer-thin ceramic shells — 0.2 to 0.3 millimetres — are bonded adhesively directly to the healthy tooth. The condition is that the starting situation of the teeth allows for the desired shape without removing tooth structure.

When is each procedure appropriate?

Non-prep is particularly suited to:

• Mild to moderate discolouration
• Smaller shape corrections
• Younger patients, for whom long-term preservation of tooth structure is decisive
• Situations in which the teeth sit further back rather than protruding forward

The classic technique remains in use when teeth already protrude noticeably or when the shape needs to be substantially altered.

Our approach

In this practice, non-prep is the rule, not the exception. The procedure is used in over 80 percent of our cases. Where it is not possible, we advise transparently — and decide together with you which path fits your result.